Gasterogramma psi Jeekel, 1982

Mesibov, Robert, 2003, The millipede genus Gasterogramma (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Dalodesmidae) in Tasmania, Australia, with descriptions of seven new species, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 60 (2), pp. 207-219 : 212-216

Gasterogramma psi Jeekel, 1982

Figures 6 , 7 , 11 (map)

Gasterogramma psi Jeekel, 1982: 12 .— Shelley et al., 2000: 102.

Holotype. Male. Australia, Tasmania. “Sta. 100, Hellyer Gorge , 32 km SSW Somerset, 25.XI.1980 (temperate rain-forest ( Nothofagus, Eucalyptus, Dicksonia ) along the Hellyer R., under logs)” ( Jeekel, 1982: 12) . Holotype probably in Zoological Museum, Amsterdam; not examined.

Material examined. Paratypes. 10 males, 12 females, 3 stadium VII males, 3 stadium VI males, collection details as for holotype; locations unknown.

Other material. 393 males from 190 unique localities in northern and western Tasmania, including Allen Creek, Animal Creek, Arthur R., Balfour, Bellana Creek, Big Creek, Black Bog Creek, Black R., Blackfish Creek, Bond Tier, Bonneys Tier, Borradale Creek, Branchs Creek, Broadsword cave (Gunns Plains), Brooks Creek, Bubs Hill, Burnie Park, Burning Down the House cave (Junee–Florentine), Cam R., Cann Creek, Central Castra, Chester Creek, Christmas Hill, Christmas Hills, Coles Creek, Companion Hill, Companion Rd, Crayfish Creek, Dalgarth Forest Reserve, Dark Creek, Dawson R., Dead End Den cave (Mt Cripps), Dee Lagoon, Deep Creek Bay, Denison R., Dip R., Don R., Duck Creek, Dundas R., East Ridgley, Emu R., Fisher R., Florentine R., Flowerdale, Gawler R., Gibson Creek, Goderich Rd, Gordon R., Guildford Rd, Hardwood R., Heemskirk Rd, Henty R., Hermit Hill, Holwell Gorge, Inglis R., Interview R., Jessie Rd, Jones Creek, Julius R., Kelcey Tier, Kenzies Hill, Lake Chisholm, Lake Lea, Lake Mackenzie, Laughing Jack Lagoon, Lawson Plains, Library Creek, Little Claytons Rivulet, Loongana cave L9, Maggs Mountain, Mahoneys Creek, Marine Creek, Maxwell R., Mersey R., Meunna, Meunna Hills, Milkshakes, Montagu Swamp, Mossy Marsh Creek, Mostyn Hardy cave (Loongana), Mt Oakleigh, Mt Sprent, Newall Creek, Nietta Creek, No Mans Creek, Nook, Notley Gorge, Olga R., Orange R., Ordnance Point, Parrawe Creek, Pelion Valley, Pencil Pine Creek, Philrod cave (Mt Cripps), Poppys Lagoon, Punchs Terror, Richardsons Flats, Roger R., Roger R. West, Rosebery, Salmon R., Sassafras Creek, Savage R., Saxons Creek, Scopus, Seabrook Creek, Serpentine Dam, Shadow Lake, Sisters Creek, Smithton, Somerset, Sterling R., Stony Rises, Sundown Point, Table Cape, Tarraleah, Three Hummock I., Trowutta Caves, Tunnel, Upper Natone, Wakefield Creek, Wandle R., Washpond Forest, Weaning Paddock Creek, Welcome Heath, West Montagu, Whisky Creek, Wild Wave R., Williamsford, Wilsons Creek and Wombat Hill.

Diagnosis. Gonopod with femoral process terminating in a mesally directed tip with shape of bird’s head; prefemoral process fringed with tooth-like projections; tibiotarsus prominent, distally or distally and mesally directed; solenomerite arising near base of prefemoral process.

Descriptive notes. For a very detailed description of this species, see Jeekel (1982: 12–14). Variations in gonopod structure and body colour pattern (see below) occur across the range of G. psi , but I am reluctant to divide G. psi into subspecies.

Gonopod: The form described by Jeekel (1982) from north-west Tasmania (site “TL” in fig. 11) extends with little variation to central Tasmania. In the latter area (“C” in fig. 11), the tip of the prefemoral process is shortened and bent slightly posteriorly (fig. 6C). In the central west (“D” in fig. 11), the tip of the prefemoral process is further flexed and lies lateral to the tibiotarsus, which is directed posteriomesally (fig. 6D) rather than standing more or less “upright” as in north-west forms. In the far north-west (“A” in fig. 11), the tibiotarsus extends well distal of the prefemoral process, and a second small, lateral tooth is present towards the base of the femoral process (fig. 6A). In the north-east of the G. psi range (“B” in fig. 11), the tibiotarsus is enlarged and directed slightly mesally, and the tips of the femoral process turn slightly posteriorly (fig. 6B).

Colour: Over much of the western and north-western portion of its range, G. psi is pale with very faint, brownish gray markings (fig. 7A). In the north of the range almost all specimens have a striking pattern of dark lateral spots on the segments with ozopores (5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15–18; fig. 7B), while specimens from the south and central portions of the G. psi range are dark with faint mottling (fig. 7C).

Distribution. From sea level to c. 1250 m over c. 25 000 km

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in northern and western Tasmania, including Three Hummock Island in Bass Strait (fig. 11). In coastal, subalpine and riparian scrubs; in swamp forest, wet eucalypt forest and rainforest; in exotic tree plantations; and occasionally in caves. Syntopic with G. imber , G. rusticum , G. tarkinense , and G. wynyardense over parts of its range.

Remarks. Gasterogramma psi is the most ecologically tolerant species of the genus in north-west Tasmania, and is generally more abundant than co-occurring G. rusticum , G. tarkinense or G. wynyardense .

Figures

Figure 6. A–D, G. psi gonopod variations, seen in situ; see fig. 11 for locations.A, Washpond Forest, north-west Tasmania, QVM 23:8085. B, Notley Gorge, north-central Tasmania, QVM 23:8139. C, Coles Creek, central Tasmania, QVM 23:24797. D, Henty R., western Tasmania, QVM 23:8143. Scale-bar in all cases = 0.5 mm.

Figure 7. A–C, body pattern variations in G. psi. A, almost uniformly pale; Cam R., north-west Tasmania. B, dark-spotted; Dial Range, north-west Tasmania. C, dark with faint mottling; Florentine R., south-west Tasmania.

Figure 11. Localities (squares) for G. psi males. Circled and labelled localities correspond to the four sites noted in fig. 6: A, Washpond Forest, B, Notley Gorge, C, Coles Creek, D, Henty R. “TL” points to the type locality, Hellyer Gorge.